World Debut For The Seat Leon At The Paris Motor Show

PARIS – Sept 24, 2012: The 2012 Mondial de l’Automobile will
be a landmark show for SEAT, as the company unveils the most important new
model in its recent history – the all-new Leon.

Combining effortless beauty with greater practicality than its two
preceding generations, the new Leon is the most advanced car that SEAT has
ever produced, and a landmark for the Spanish company.

The introduction of the new Leon makes the 2012 Paris Motor Show an
epoch-defining event for SEAT, during which the first of a new model family
is introduced – a family that will extend the Leon’s reach
further than ever before.

And with the official introduction of the new, production-ready Toledo
hatchback, SEAT really does have compact family car segment covered. The
new Toledo, which goes on sale at the end of this month (September 2012),
boasts an incredible amount of cabin space and a 550-litre boot, wrapped in
a compact body shell and with a price that’s more supermini than
family car.

Alongside the two new production cars, SEAT will also display the
exciting Mii FR Line Concept. First shown at the 2012 GTI Treffen event in
Worthersee, Austria, the Mii FR Line Concept alludes to how the city car
could look were it to become available in FR trim.

Finally, the Paris Motor Show represents the official market
introduction of SEAT’s new corporate identity, which brings a more
modern, streamlined look to the existing ‘S’ logo found on the
grille and tailgate of every SEAT model. It will be used first on the new
Leon, before being rolled out to the entire range from 2013.

But that’s not all SEAT has to make a song and dance about in
Paris, because at 4pm on press day its Paris show stand becomes the SEAT
Lounge.

The SEAT Lounge will be hosted by French electronica duo Thomas Roussel
and Yannick Grandjean, aka SomethingALaMode. The classically trained
musicians (violinist and cellist respectively) fuse classical loops with
electro beats to create a sound that’s as captivating as it is
original.

Speaking about SEAT’s presence at the 2012 Paris Motor Show, UK
Director Peter Wyhinny said: “We’re hugely excited about what
we have in store for this year’s Paris show. The all-new Leon is a
remarkable car, oozing Spanish flair but bursting with technology and
offering genuine versatility. We can’t wait to show it in the metal
so that its beauty and presence can really be appreciated, and beyond that
we’re eagerly anticipating getting people behind the wheel so they
can feel just how dynamic this car really is.

“In addition, the introduction of the new, fourth-generation
Toledo is a big step for us, because it gives our customers the chance to
own a car with unique visual appeal but that packs a practicality punch way
above its compact size and price. Its five-door hatchback layout brings the
model back to the spirit of the ground-breaking original, which was a huge
success. We’re convinced that buyers will take this new Toledo to
their hearts.

“And with the stunning Mii FR Line Concept sitting on our Paris
show stand too, alluding to a sportier future for the sensational city car,
there are good times ahead for SEAT. Adding the new Leon and Toledo to
models like the Mii, the Exeo and the multi-award winning Alhambra, the
SEAT line-up is bigger, better and more exciting than ever before…and
there’s much more to come.”

New SEAT LeonSEAT will be responsible for one of the most
significant events of the 2012 Paris Motor Show with the world debut of the
brand new Leon hatchback.

The Spanish company will unveil the Leon five-door version in Paris,
spearheading a new family of models that will eventually comprise five-door
hatchback, three-door SC and ST estate. Both FR and SE specifications will
be on display at the show.

The third generation model represents a shift in direction for the Leon,
which will give buyers more choice than ever before and ensure that
there’s a version to suit every taste and requirement.

The five-door Leon is the embodiment of style-meets-practicality,
unifying an aesthetic reminiscent of a coupé with rear space enough for
adults; with a 380-litre boot, the new car’s luggage capacity is
approximately 40-litres improved over its predecessor’s, and its
wheelbase is six centimetres longer, for increased legroom.

The new Leon, whose UK order book opens in February for March
deliveries, will come to market with a version boasting a CO2 rating of
just 99g/km. That means 74.3mpg and zero annual Vehicle Excise Duty.

That’s the headline Ecomotive model, although the Leon offers
excellent parsimony across the range, despite model-for-model power
increases – even the 1.8 TSI petrol engine with 180 PS will emit less
than 140g/km, while the 150 PS diesel Leon will dip below the 110g/km mark,
and achieve more than 70mpg.

Thanks to advanced construction techniques and material use, the new
Leon is approximately 90 kilograms lighter than its predecessor
model-for-model.

And by using a high proportion of soft touch plastics for the interior,
as well as cutting edge driver assistance and infotainment systems, the new
Leon will sit at the very pinnacle of the family hatchback class when it
goes on sale.

Not only is the new Leon the first car in its class to offer full LED
headlamps – a recent development in the luxury car sector – it
also comes with a ground-breaking driver drowsiness detection function and
an automatic lane-keeping assistant.

Sportier FR models will come equipped with SEAT Drive Profile, a system
that allows the driver to alter the characteristics of the power steering,
throttle and, where a DSG automatic transmission is equipped, the gearing.
In Sport mode, the dials turn from white to red, and where the engine has
180 PS or more, its sound is remapped for a more aggressive tone.

Every UK Leon will have a colour touchscreen incorporating the radio
controls, Bluetooth phone connectivity and other vehicle functions.

SEAT ToledoDeveloped to complement the Leon hatchback in
SEAT’s range, the new Toledo focusses primarily on offering buyers
outstanding practicality, space and value.

Its 550-litre boot, accessed by a huge hatchback opening, gives it
class-leading luggage space – more, even, than the vast majority of
D-segment family cars. Yet all that at a price more akin to a
supermini.

Paris will see the new Toledo shown in production form for the first
time at a major motor show, prior to the first cars hitting UK roads in
November.

Available with a range of extremely efficient TSI petrol and TDI diesel
engines, the most economical new Toledo, the 1.6 TDI 105 PS Ecomotive S,
returns 72.4mpg and 104g/km of CO2.

The range comprises E, S, SE, Ecomotive S and Ecomotive SE. The exact
entry level price is yet to be finalised, but is expected to be around
£12,500.

SEAT Mii FR LineHaving made its debut at the GTI Treffen
event in Worthersee, Austria, the Mii FR Line Concept gets its major motor
show introduction in Paris.

The Mii FR Line Concept is resplendent in Tornado Red with black
highlights above the sideskirts, as well as on the lower bumper and
tailgate. The 16-inch grey aluminium wheels have a red outer pinstripe and
sit inside wheelarches detailed in black.

There’s a distinct red theme in the cabin. The entire dash panel
is red, and is embossed with the ‘FR Line’ logo in large
lettering. Red accents are also found on the steering wheel, the gear
stick, the door linings, the sport seats, and even the floor mats.

SEAT press conferenceSEAT’s press conference will take
place Thursday 27 Sept at 09:45, Pavillion 4, Stand 130. The SEAT Lounge is
open to all and begins at 4pm that evening.

The SEAT Leon will appear at the 26 September Volkswagen Group Media
Evening, attendance to which is invite-only.